Pitman connection for mowers.



C. PEARSON.

PI'TMAN CONNECTION FOR MOWERS. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 1. 1916.

1 ,266,9% Patenced May 21.1918.

{A 7 flli TINITED STATES PATENT @FFIQE.

CHARLES PEARSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO INTERNATIONAL HARVESTER COMPANY OF NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

PITMAN CONNECTION FOR MOWERS.

Application filed December 1, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES PEARSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pitman Connections for Mowers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to pitman connections for mowers.

The object of the invention is to provide means whereby wear of the associated c06pcrating parts of the pit-man and reciproeating cutter bar is automatically compensated for and the parts at all times are held in proper engagement.

A further object is to provide means for easily and quickly connecting and disconnecting the pitman and cutter bar.

The invention more specifically relates to an improvement in the construction described and claimed in Patent No. 1,226,364, granted May 15, 1917, in which construction the grainward end of the pitman is provided with resilient jaws held in engagement with the end of the cutter bar by means of a bolt which, in turn, is controlled by the wedgeshaped end of a spring-pressed grainwardly extending shank of atoggle mechanism. In this construction more specifically described in. my before mentioned application, it is necessary to entirely withdraw the wedgeshaped member from the jaw clamping bolt in order to disconnect the pitman from the cutter bar. of this member consumes unnecessary time and causes unnecessary delay. To overcome this defect in my former construction, I have devised the present device, in which the pitman and cutter bar may be readily and easily disconnected without withdrawing the wedge-shaped member above described from the jaw clamping bolt.

In the accompanying drawings I have, for

the purpose of illustration, shown one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawings, wherein corresponding reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention, showing the jaws in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the jaws in closed position; and

Specification of Letters Patent.

The withdrawal and replacing Patented May 21, 1918.

Serial No. 134,463.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the jaws in open position and the toggle joint broken.

The stubblewa rd end 1 of the body portion of the pitman, preferably made of wood, is provided with resilient jaws 2 and 3, secured thereto by rivets 4-, the opposite ends of the jaws being provided with cup-shaped bearing surfaces to receive the spherical journal bearing 5 integral with the knife head of the reciprocating cutter bar. The resilient jaws are provided with registering apertures through which is extended the clamping bolt 7, which is provided at one end with a threaded portion 8 seated in a threaded aperture 9 of the clamping jaw 2. At the other end of said bolt 7 there is provided. an elongated slot 10, having at its outer end an arcuate bearing surface 11. Coiiperating with the bolt 7, and extending through the said elongated slot, is a wedge 12 formed. on the end of a grainwardly extending link 13 which forms a portion of a toggle mechanism. The wedge 12 is provided on its grainward end with a projection 14 which carries at its extremity a pin 14* for purposes hereinafter described. Pivotally secured to the stubbleward extremity of the link 13 is a link 15, which latter link is provided with a bifurcated end portion, into which bifurcation said link 13 extends and is secured by the pivot bolt 16. Extending upwardly from said bifurcated end of the link 15 there is provided a projection 17, against which the foot of the operator may be pressed in forcing home the toggle and closing the clamping jaws. The stubbleward end of the link 15 passes loosely through the end 18 of a bolt 19 loosely journaled in upwardly extending projections 20 and 21 of the stubbleward ends of the clamping jaws 2 and 3, and said bolt 19 is secured therein by means of a pin 22. Between the bolt 19 and a nut 23 threaded on a portion 24 of the grainward end of the link 15 is a compression spring 25, and there is provided on the stubbleward end of the link 15 a pin 26 which prevents the withdrawal of the link 15 from the bolt 19 when the toggle is broken, as shown in Fig. 3. The spring 25 can be regulated to any desired degree of compression by the nut 23.

Secured to the jaw 3 by screws passing into the body portion of the pitman and located below and in the path of the link 13,

is a ledge 27 which, as is shown in Fig. 2, retains the toggle mechanism in its closed position. Also formed on the outer surface of the jaw 3 isa rib or cam surface 28 provided at its grainward extremity with a U- shaped portion 29 terminating in an ex tremity 29, which cam surface cooperates with the offset portion 30 on the inner surface of the wedge-shaped portion 12 of the link 13. The jaw 3 carries at its outer end a bearing surface 34;, on which the outer end of the wedge bears when the toggle is closed. As will be seen from Fig. 1, the inner surface vof the wedge 12 is provided at its grainward end with a portion 31 substantially parallel to the plane of inclination of the wedge. Located between the surface 31 and the projection 30 is a surface 32 substantiallyparallel to the main body portion of the pitman, and located between the projection 30 and the surface 32 is a beveled and inclined portion 33.

The operation of the device is as follows: When the jaws 2 and 3 are in closed positlon, thereby retaining the journal 5 of the knife head 6 between them, the link 13 will rest on the ledge 27 and will be retained there by the pressure of spring 25. In order to spread or open said jaws, pressure is apphed on the under side of the pivot 16 of the toggle mechanism, and when said toggle mechanism has passed the point of dead center, the spring will force the wedge 12 of the link 13 into the position shown in Fig. 3, and the projection 30 on the under side of the wedgeshaped portion will. pass off from the aw 3 and'the portion 32 will bear agamst said aw andthe side of the wedge 12 will contact with cam surface or ledge 29, thereby limiting the outward movement of the link 13. The pin 14* on the end of wedge 12 Wlll contact with the walls of slot 10 and limit the outward movement ofwedge 12 and link 13. With the link 13 and the wedge portionl in this position, the jaws 2 and 3 may be spread sulliciently to allow the bearing 5 of the knife. head to be completely removed from between the jaws. In order to again close the jaws, pressureis exerted .on the projection 17, the bevel 33 will guide the wedge 12 outward onto the surface of jaw 3, and the projection 30 on the inner side of the wedge 12 rides against the stubbleward end of the cam surface 28, the wedge 12 being forced against the outer arcuate wall 11 of the slot 10, thereby forcing the jaws again into engagement with the bearing 5.

The wedge 12 and jaws 2 and 3 are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in theposition they asume when the mower has been in operationfor a considerable length. of time; as,'for instance, after several hundred acreshave been cut, and the sphericalbearing 5 and jaws 2 and a 3 have been subjected toconsiderable Wear.

{When the machine first leaves the factory immediately in front of the beveled surface 29, the rear end of the lug30 bearing against the surface of rib 28 secured to the jaw 3. As the parts 2, 3 and 5 are gradually worn .away, the spring 25 forces the wedged into slot 10 and the parts, after considerable wear, assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and'2 of the drawings. Additional adjustment may be secured byturning the bolt 7 in the screw threaded aperture 9 of jaw 2, This is accomplished by removing the pin 26 from link 15 and disconnecting the link from pin 19. When this is done the links 13 and 15 and wedge 12 may all be rotated about the pin 7 as an' aXis, the pin being turned in the aperture 9 to any desired adjustment. It will be understood that this latter adjustment will ordinarily be made at the factory, and that the adjustment of wedge 12 in slot 10 of bolt 7 will ordinarily provide sufficient takeup to compensate for the wear of the cooperating andassociated parts of the pitman connection.

It will be' noted that with applicants improved construction the jaws may be clamped and spread easily and quickly without withdrawing the jaw controlling wedge from the bolt, thereby throwing the parts out of adjustment and incurring unnecessary delay due to the necessity of replacing the parts in their. operative positions. Further, it is to be notedihat' the wear on the cooperating part is automatically compensated for and'that a wide'range of, adjustment is provided'for by the two distinctand independent adjustments.

Vvhile I have in this application specifically described one embodiment which my invention may assume'in'practice, it is, of course to be understood that my invention is not limited to the specific form show-n herein, but. may be. modified to'assumeother forms without departing'from the spirit'of the invention, it being my intention to include vall such forms within the scope of the appended claims.

IVhatI claim as-new is:

1. In a pitman connection, a pitman'having j aws, meansfor-clamping saidjawsineluding afixed controlling member,-toggle mechanism operatively connected to said pitman and said controlling member, and means preventing the breaking of said connection between the toggle mechanism and controlling member when the toggle is broken and the jaws are spread.

2. In a pitman. connection, a pitman having jaws, an adjustable controlling member for clamping said jaws, toggle mechanism operatively connected to .said pitman and said controlling member, and-means preventing the breaking of said connection between ing resilient jaws, a slotted member carried by said jaws, a wedge extending through the slot in said member, toggle mechanism operatively connected to said pitman and wedge, and means preventing the withdrawal of the wedge from said slot when the toggle is broken and the jaws are spread.

5. In a pitman connection, a pitman having jaws, mean including a controlling member for clamping said jaws, toggle mechanism operatively connected to said controlling member, and means mounted on the pitman for forcing one link of the toggle mechanism into jaw closing relation with respect to said controlling member as said toggle mechanism is actuated into jaw closing position.

6. In a pitman connection, a pitman having jaws, means including a controlling member for clamping said jaws, toggle mechanism operatively connected to said controlling member, and fixed means located on the pitman for limiting the angle of opening of said toggle mechanism.

7. In a pitman connection, a pitman having jaws, means including an adjustable controlling member for clamping said jaws, laterally movable toggle mechanism operatively connected to said pitman and controlling member, and means on said pitman for limiting the lateral movement of said toggle mechanism.

8. In a pitman connection, a pitman having jaws, means for clamping said jaws together including a controlling member, springpressed toggle mechanism operatively connected between said pitman and said controlling member, and means on said toggle mechanism cooperating with one of said jaws for guiding the toggle mechanism into aw closing position on said pitman as downward pressure is exerted on the toggle mechanism.

9. In a pitman connection, a pitman having resilient jaws, a member carried thereon having a shouldered portion and projecting through one of said jaws, a wedge engageable with said shouldered portion, a toggle operatively connected between said pitman and wedge, and means on one of said jaws for forcing said wedge against the shouldered portion of said member as downward pressure is exerted on the toggle.

10. In a pitman connection, a pitman having resilient jaws, a slotted member projecting through said jaws, a wedge extending through the slot in said member, a toggle operatively connected between said pitman and wedge, and means operatively connected with said toggle for forcing said wedge into said slot as the toggle is closed.

11. In a pitman connection, a pitman having resilient jaws, an adjustable slotted member projecting through said jaws, a wedge extending through the slot in said member, a toggle operatively connected between said pitman and wedge, and means cooperating with said toggle for forcing said wedge into said slotted member as the toggle is closed.

12. In a pitman connection, a pitman having resilient jaws, a slotted member projecting through said jaws, a wedge extending through the slot in said member, a springpressed toggle operatively connected be tween said pitman and wedge, and means mounted on one of said jaws and cooperating with said toggle for forcing the wedge into said slotted member as the toggle is closed.

13. In a pitman connection, a journal bearing member, resilient jaws engaging with said bearing member, a clamping member carried by said jaws, a slidable wedge engaging with said clamping member, spring-pressed toggle mechanism controlling'the operation of said wedge, and means on said clamping member cooperating with said wedge to limit the longitudinal movement of said wedge when the toggle is broken.

14. In a pitman connection, a pitman having resilient jaws, a slotted member projecting through said jaws, a wedge extending through the slot in said member, toggle mechanism operatively connected to said wedge, means located on the pitman for forcing said wedge into said slotted member as the toggle mechanism is closed, and means for limiting the angular movement of said toggle mechanism when the toggle is broken and the jaws are spread.

15. In a pitman connection, a pitman having resilient jaws, a slotted controlling member carried by said jaws, a toggle mechanism having one end slidably. connected to said pitman and provided at its other end with a wedge extending into the slot of said controlling member and having a bearing surface on one of said jaws, and means on the inner surface of said wedge for guiding the wedge into a bearing position on said jaw.

16. In a pitman connection, a pitman having resilient jaws, a slotted controlling member carried by said jaws, a toggle mech anism having one end slidably connected to said pitman and provided at its other end with a wedge extending into the slot of said controlling member and having a bearing surface on one of said jaws, and means carried by the pitman for moving said wedge longitudinally as .the toggle mechanism is closed and the jaws are clamped.

17. In a pitman connection,a pitman having resilient jaws, a slotted controlling member carried by said jaws, a toggle mechanism having one end slidably Connected to said pitman and provided at its other end with a wedge extending into the slot of said controlling member, and means carried by one Of said jaws for limiting the angle or movement of said wedge.

18. In a pitman eonnection,a pitman having resilient aws, a slotted controlling member carried by said jaws, a toggle mechanism having one end slidably connected to said pitman and provided at its other end with a wedge extending into the slot of said controlling 1nember,'said wedge being provided on its inner surface with a plurality of separate bearing surfaces.

19. In a pit nan connection, a pitinan having resilient jaws, and means including a toggle'controlled wedge for clamping said jaws, said wedge being provided on its inner side with a' plurality of bearing surfaces.

20. In a pitman connection, a pitman having resilient jaws, means including a toggle controlled wedge for clamping said jaws, said wedge having a shoulder on its i ner surface, and one of said jaws having means cooperating with said shoulder to move said e ge lo g tudin lly a h toggl i lo d and the jaws are clamped.

1- 1 a P tman connect on, p ma ha ng res n ja n a ju le c a p n me nher for said jaws, toggle controlled means co pemt sa' wit sa d clamping mh f r clQ ine' s d i W an lean i ec red toa n Qisa d jaw t r sc is -inseam to l cont e le me 1 29! In a pitmancen lec ome pit nan a ing r si i aw n adjus ab e nt o l g n en loer threaded into one of said aws and projecting through an aperture in the other am sai Proj t ar s b i o e and a toggle controlled wedge extending through the "slot of controlling member. In testimony whereof Iatfix'iny' signature.

' H LES 'PE B N- com s of this patent maybe oetained for five cents each, by addressin the Commissioner 9 r s,

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